Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Folio Society Winter Collection
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) ` — The Folio Society has become a staple of my gift guides. They consistently release the most beautiful, illustrated editions of classic novels, plays, poetry collections, and comics. There is a sense of elegance and timelessness to everything they publish.
To close out 2023, The Folio Society adds titles from Frank Herbert, Mary Shelly, Agatha Christie, Cormac McCarthy, William Shakespeare, Toni Morrison, Roald Dahl, and more. They continue their partnership with Marvel Comics with an Avengers anthology and kick off their new relationship with DC Comics with a “Golden Age” collection.
I’ve included a little Charles Dickens, which isn’t new, but pairs incredibly well with the newly released "The Night Before Christmas." Think of it as a bonus temptation: As if these titles (even the few I’d never heard of) weren’t already tempting enough.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Illustrated by Michael Foreman
There is nothing more Dickensian than the Dickens Christmas. His was a vision of sizzling geese with the stuffing falling out, puddings like cannonballs blazing with brandy, bowls of punch, hordes of children and Dickens himself in the role of storyteller. And nowhere was his vision more ebulliently immortalised than in "A Christmas Carol." Resplendent in a seasonal red cloth binding, with deep green endpapers, "A Christmas Carol" features a capering Scrooge on the front, while the spectre of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come lurks expectantly on the spine and back cover. Michael Foreman’s atmospheric black-and-white illustrations evoke both the ghostly nature and the sprightly humour of this classic story.
The Night Before Christmasby Clement C. Moore
Illustrated by Ella Beech
Beautifully illustrated by Ella Beech, this magical Folio Society edition of Clement C. Moore’s "The Night Before Christmas," a family is sleeping, stockings hung expectantly above the fireplace, when a noise outside announces a night-time visitor. One of the most recognisable and best-loved Christmas tales, "The Night Before Christmas" has been read to, and read by, excited children for 200 years. Written by New York clergyman, Clement C. Moore, the poem perfectly captures the anticipation and wonder of Christmas Eve, and it shaped our image of the festive season, including the idea of St. Nicholas arriving on a sleigh pulled by reindeer.
The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton
Illustrated by Jonathan Burton
Introduced by Michael Morpurgo
Enid Blyton’s "The Magic Faraway Tree" trilogy has captivated readers for more than 80 years and this landmark new Folio series will ensure that legacy continues. "The Enchanted Wood" introduces Jo, Bessie and Fanny, as they move to a new house and discover the magical world in the woods just beyond their back door. Innocent, fantastical and full of fun, this is a trip down literary memory lane for older readers, while children will be whisked away to incredible lands on wonderful adventures, as they follow the antics of Moon-Face, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy.
Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones
Illustrated by Alison Bryant
Introduced by Katherine Rundell
Foreword by Neil Gaiman
A magical school, parallel universes and nine lives hidden in the most unlikely of places. Welcome to the many worlds of 'Chrestomanci', where nothing is quite as it seems. "Charmed Life" is an anarchic, hilarious tale of magic and mayhem from the fairy godmother of children’s literature, Diana Wynne Jones. For this special edition of a British fantasy classic, artist Alison Bryant has created six exuberant and witty illustrations that bring the magic of Jones’s most celebrated series to life. Every image is awash with colour and character, from freshly summoned giant frogs to Gwendoline’s delightfully disdainful face – and of course Chrestomanci himself, resplendent in a variety of unlikely dressing gowns. This edition also includes two delightful short stories from the world of ‘Chrestomanci’, "Warlock at the Wheel" and "The Sage of Theare." Katherine Rundell, the award-winning author of the modern children’s adventure classic "Rooftoppers," has written a new introduction exclusively for this Folio edition, in which she calls "Charmed Life," "one of the finest children’s books ever written."
The Roald Dahl Collection (Set 3)
Includes: Fantastic Mr Fox, Danny the Champion of the World, George’s Marvellous Medicine byRoald Dahl
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Introduced by Donald Sturrock
This new collection joins the best-selling set one and set two, and Dahl’s classic text has once again been paired with Quentin Blake’s original black-and-white ink drawings. They are so entwined with the stories that it would be a travesty to separate them, so they have been beautifully reproduced, while Artistic Director of the Roald Dahl Foundation, Donald Sturrock, has written an exclusive new introduction. A heritage collector’s set with gorgeous cloth bindings and metallic printed endpapers, these books are, above all, designed to be read, shared and cherished by the most discerning literary critics children.
The Complete Playsby William Shakespeare
Illustrated by Neil Packer
Introduced by Gregory Doran
Foreword by Dame Judi Dench
On 8 November 1623, the "First Folio of Shakespeare’s" plays was registered, bringing together the great playwright’s work as a single printed collection for the first time and saving it for centuries to come. 400 years on, Folio is delighted to commemorate the anniversary with a sensational limited edition; a triumph of the bookmakers’ art and a legacy for future generations, which includes a foreword by Dame Judi Dench and an introduction by Gregory Doran, the RSC’s Artistic Director Emeritus. Neil Packer’s designs for the elegant, bespoke bindings are inspired by Elizabethan blackwork embroidery – his artwork perfectly replicated in sumptuous silk and linen jacquard cloth woven by Stephen Walters & Sons, the oldest silk-weaving company in Britain. Packer has also contributed 40 illustrations and designs for the presentation box. The text, set in black and red throughout, was printed by Northend in Sheffield. Smith Settle, also in Yorkshire, renowned for exemplary craftsmanship, have bound the books employing traditional techniques, and, finally, Stan Lane, the last of the famous Monotype artisan printers, has printed the limitation tip on his original Heidelberg press at his studio in Gloucestershire. Signed and numbered by Neil Packer, the tip is in the front of "The Comedies."
The Avengers
Selected and introduced by Roy Thomas
Meet the super hero team who united a universe in The Avengers, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Folio teams up once again with legendary Avengers writer and Marvel editor Roy Thomas, who selects and introduces 12 exemplary tales of Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch and so many more. This thrilling new collection includes a perfect replica of 1963’s "The Avengers #1" by Stan Lee and Jack ‘The King’ Kirby, while modern Avengers artist Leinil Francis Yu provides original cover art featuring bold contemporary visions of team-members old and new. The Avengers unifies Folio’s previous Marvel collections – including Captain America, Thor and Hulk – exploring how these characters lived and battled within a single shared universe.
DC Comics: The Golden Age 1938-1956
Selected and introduced by Jenette Kahn
Witness the creation of the world’s first multiverse, when the publisher that would become DC Comics founded the superhero genre as we know it today. The groundbreaking debut adventures of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and more return in Folio’s earth-shattering new collection "DC Comics: The Golden Age." Former DC Editor-in-Chief Jenette Kahn selects and introduces eighteen epoch-making stories published during the formative age of American comic books. Scanned directly from original copies held in the DC archives, these seminal stories collect the earliest – often startling – incarnations of our modern super hero icons. Discover original work by the founding fathers of the genre, from Superman creators Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, Batman’s Bob Kane with Bill Finger, and Wonder Woman writer William Moulton Marston. This astonishing collection includes a complete 68-page replica of "Action Comics #1," the world’s very first superhero comic. Presented in a dynamic clamshell case with a separate art print by modern Batman artist Yanick Paquette, "DC Comics: The Golden Age" explores the roots of a pop culture phenomenon, the first instalment in a brand-new series from The Folio Society in partnership with DC Comics.
Dune: Messiah byFrank Herbert
Illustrated by Hilary Clarcq
Lose yourself once more in the sands of Arrakis with Frank Herbert’s monumental "Dune: Messiah." The second instalment of one of the most important sci-fi visions of the 20th century is presented in a unique illustrated edition from Folio. Paul Atreides has been Emperor of the Known Universe for 12 troubled years. He is the most formidable being in the universe, yet powerless to stop the catastrophic galaxy-wide war triggered by his ascension to the throne. Paul’s sweeping, tragic saga is illustrated by award-winning artist – and self-confessed Dune superfan – Hilary Clarcq. This edition also includes Herbert’s elusive ‘Death Cell Interview’ prologue, a dramatic recap of the first book that he wrote for the first UK edition of "Dune: Messiah" in 1971 and has appeared sporadically in versions ever since. Whether you’re familiar with "Dune" from the classic novel or the blockbuster movies, the Folio edition of "Dune: Messiah" is the vital next step in your journey.
Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
Illustrated by Angela Barrett
Introduced by Richard Holmes
There can be few books as well-known as Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein.' Adapted for stage, film and radio over 100 times, this chilling gothic tale is thought by some to be the very first science-fiction novel. Written in 1816, when Shelley was just 18, her story of a hideous monster of superhuman strength is indebted to contemporary scientific experiments and philosophical debates and is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.
Artist Angela Barrett has contributed eight ominously unsettling illustrations for our edition. Created in series with her remarkable illustrations for "Dracula," each one is full of foreboding and set within an elaborate hand-drawn black-and-white border. Nine vignettes represent further aspects of the story, and Barrett’s work is completed with a striking binding design. Award-winning biographer Richard Holmes has contributed an exclusive introduction focusing on the scientific influences and cultural repercussions of the novel.
The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
Illustrated by Neil Packer
Translated by Robin Kirkpatrick
Essay by Jhumpa Lahiri
Celebrating one of the greatest classics of world literature, this exquisite edition features Robin Kirkpatrick’s acclaimed translation, written in three-line rhyming stanzas to follow Dante’s terza rima scheme. From the earliest manuscripts, a tradition of illustration has surrounded "The Divine Comedy" and Neil Packer has created illustrations for all 100 cantos, drawing out details from the text. Packer’s work draws on diverse influences including English woodblock prints from the 1930s, North African designs and art deco, and it extends to exquisite hand-drawn lettering and a striking binding design. A specially commissioned essay by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Jhumpa Lahiri, completes this extraordinary edition. Written in 33 passages, mirroring the cantos, her thoughts range from film to numerology in an entertaining and absorbing piece.
Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie
Illustrated by Laura Hope
Mrs. Rachel Argyle gave her whole life to her adopted children, lavishing them with gifts, money and love. So, why did it end so brutally, with a poker to the back of the head? Dr. Arthur Calgary is determined to uncover the truth. "Ordeal by Innocence" is a delicious standalone psychological thriller from the undisputed queen of golden age crime. Can you figure out ‘whodunit’ before turning the final page? This first ever illustrated edition features seven atmospheric colour images by artist Laura Hope, as well as a striking binding design guaranteed to draw the eye. Described by Christie herself as one of her favourites, "Ordeal by Innocence" is a must read for any fan of detective fiction and a delicious new volume in the hugely popular Folio Christie collection.
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
Illustrated by Sally Dunne
Binding design by Jessica Hische
A handsome and bored Marquis finds himself drawn into the world of the witty and determined Frederica. Both find themselves surprised by where their journey takes them. This is Heyer at her best, as she weaves together family high jinks and high society drama, complete with a dramatic balloon misadventure and rambunctious ‘Baluchistan Hound’. Bound sumptuously in azure fabric, Sally Dunne’s signature illustrations are perfectly complemented by Jessica Hische’s lettering design on the binding, resplendent with curlicues and accents of gold. This volume is a must for Heyer fans and a perfect addition to the exclusive Folio collection, joining the deliciously addictive Venetia and richly romantic Arabella.
The Wind-Up Bird ChroniclebyHaruki Murakami
Illustrated by Daniel Liévano
Translated by Jay Rubin
Toru Okada lived a relatively simple life. Now, his cat has gone missing, he receives mysterious telephone calls, and his once loving wife grows more distant by the day. As he struggles to come to terms with what’s happening, Toru must navigate an increasingly surreal series of discoveries and encounters. Ostensibly a story about marriage, "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" weaves its way between and among genres and themes, with Murakami’s trademark narrative style and complex characters. Designed in series with the best-selling "Kafka on the Shore" and "Norwegian Wood," this latest addition to our Murakami collection sees the return of conceptual artist Daniel Liévano. Having won a prestigious Society of Illustrators Silver Medal for his work on Kafka on the Shore, Liévano once again demonstrates his innate understanding of Murakami’s imaginary worlds; his dreamlike illustrations perfectly in tune with the author’s ethereal prose.
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
Illustrated by Dave McKean
Introduced by Jeanette Winterson
Translated by William Weaver
In "Invisible Cities," Calvino mirrors reality in fantastical prose through imagined conversations between the explorer Marco Polo and Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan. He conjures imaginary places gradually revealed to be the different quarters of ancient and modern Venice. Dave McKean was an immediate choice to capture the rich visuals of Calvino’s landscapes and abstract concepts in ten intricate colour illustrations, plus 27 integrated illustrations. Stunning cover visuals evoke labyrinthine fantastical cities unspooling from the minds of the narrators.
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
Illustrated by Jana Heidersdorf
Introduced by Daniel Kehlmann
Nobel-prize winning author Kazuo Ishiguro demonstrates his ability to craft a powerful story in any genre with this poignant fantasy fable about love, loss and the fragility of forgiveness. Inspired by "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and the rich imagery of Arthurian legend, Ishiguro weaves together myriad influences from across the literary spectrum, from Beowulf to Don Quixote to Tolkien, to create something entirely unique – a tale soaked in myth that asks questions about war, memory and justice that have never been more pertinent. Fully illustrated for the first time with seven colour illustrations and four black-and-white images by artist Jana Heidersdorf, this unmissable Folio edition also features an introduction by writer and playwright Daniel Kehlmann.
Tales from Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Illustrated by David Lupton
Put up a sail and summon a witch-wind as we travel back to fantasy’s most beloved archipelago. With these five exquisite stories of "Earthsea," Ursula K. Le Guin weaves her unique magic once again, bringing new depth to one of the genre’s great masterpieces. This beautiful collector’s edition features seven atmospheric illustrations by artist David Lupton, who worked with Le Guin and her family from the very beginning of this Folio series to bring her vision of Earthsea to life, as well a stirring binding design. In a testament to the richness of her created world, Le Guin wrote a fascinating series of notes on the people, languages, literature and history of the region in ‘A Description of Earthsea’, also included in this edition. In the foreword, the author talks movingly about her desire to return to the world she created in "A Wizard of Earthsea," and the methods by which a writer goes about excavating the history of a fictional landscape.
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan
In this revelatory book, Peter Frankopan makes the case for a major re-evaluation of world history – one focused not on Europe but on central Asia, where East meets West. In "The Silk Roads," the zone between the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Himalayas emerges as a birthplace of civilisations, empires and religions. From here, the ancient routes of the title – ‘the world’s central nervous system’ – spread not only trade, but scientific knowledge, slaves, disease and marauding armies. Frankopan shows how the Silk Roads brought about a profoundly interconnected world, where ripples created by events in Baghdad could be felt in Scandinavia. And he shows the region’s global significance is rising again, in a time when China’s Belt and Road Initiative is creating new Silk Roads with a global reach. Frankopan brings the narrative up to date in a new introduction to this Folio edition, which includes a superb range of photography: 64 full pages, from paintings and ancient artefacts to modern architecture and photojournalism. A number-one bestseller, "The Silk Roads" sets out a compelling alternative to familiar Western narratives on global history.
The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser
In popular memory, the wives of Henry VIII are defined by their fate. But in Antonia Fraser’s pioneering study, the six queens emerge as rich and fascinating characters in their own right, not just the helpless victims of Henry’s obsession with a male heir. The story she tells us is by turns romantic and cruel, funny and sad, dramatic and enthralling. An international bestseller from the doyenne of historical biography, "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" is enriched with 32 pages of colour illustrations. There are the famous portraits by Hans Holbein, miniatures by Lucas Horenbout and views by Anton van den Wyngaerde, as well as letters, prayer books and palace scenes – many from the Royal Collection, the National Portrait Gallery and the British Library. In a new introduction, Fraser revisits her classic work to discuss the challenges of bringing to life people who were ‘just like us – and in another sense, completely different.’
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Illustrated by Joe Morse
Introduced by Russell Banks
As extraordinary as the character who inspires its title, "Beloved" is seminal both in its stylistic achievements and its searing depiction of the lives of African Americans under slavery. It won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1988, and in 2006 was ranked the nation’s best work of fiction of the past 25 years by the New York Times. At its daring, startling heart lies the image of infanticide; an act of paradoxical violence by which an escaped slave, Sethe, saves her child from a life like her own. Unnamed, the baby is buried in a grave marked ‘Beloved’, but her time among the living has not drawn to an end. With an introduction by award-winning writer Russell Banks, and featuring Joe Morse’s striking illustrations, this is a beautiful collector’s edition of an essential novel.
Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1944–56 by Anne Applebaum
After the Second World War, millions of Eastern Europeans found themselves under Soviet rule. Their story is told in "Iron Curtain," Pulitzer prize-winning author Anne Applebaum’s landmark study of the imposition of Soviet totalitarianism. Weaving together archival evidence and first-hand testimony, she shows how the communists extinguished democracy in Poland, Hungary and East Germany – crushing dissent, liquidating opponents and assuming an iron grip of the media, schools, police, justice system and every other part of civil society. Applebaum’s story is rooted in everyday life: how people learned to cope with the capricious cruelty of the authorities, and ways in which they collaborated, complied or resisted. "Iron Curtain" was shortlisted for the US National Book Award and was TIME magazine’s number-one non-fiction book of 2012. In a compelling new introduction, Applebaum draws a direct line between the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ‘terrible, bygone era’ of repression in the Eastern Bloc. Almost 60 integrated images, including some from the 20th century’s most eminent photojournalists, make for a definitive edition of an important and gripping book.
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
Illustrated by Igor & Marina
Joining the phenomenal best-selling Folio edition of "Wolf Hall," the second book in Hilary Mantel’s trilogy also features the striking artwork of fine artists Igor and Marina. Working in pencil, the artistic duo delves into the minutiae of Cromwell’s life, bringing emotion and intrigue to the 11 drawings. A spectacular colour frontispiece and stunning binding design complete their work on this incredible edition.
Henry VIII has grown tired of Anne Boleyn and wants a new queen Thomas Cromwell will help him fulfil this desire. In the second book in what is arguably the greatest trilogy of the modern era, Mantel immerses the reader in the narrative of the King’s chief minister, as played out against the glamorous and contentious backdrop of Tudor London.
The Planets by Andrew Cohen & Professor Brian Cox
Images selected and introduced by David A. Rothery
"The Planets" is a fantastic voyage through the history of our solar system, and the best-selling companion to the acclaimed BBC TV series. Drawing on the latest discoveries from space telescopes and interplanetary probes, Andrew Cohen and Professor Brian Cox show how the story of our own world is intimately bound up with the fate of our celestial neighbours. The journey begins with the three inner planets: Sun-parched Mercury; Venus, once thought to be lush and fertile, now smothered in toxic gases; and Mars, too small to hold on to its own atmosphere. Cohen reveals the fearsome power of Jupiter – both a destroyer and a protector of worlds – and how Saturn may become the final place in our solar system where life can exist. Finally, the voyage reaches the mysterious ice giants of Uranus and Neptune, and the distant dwarf planet Pluto. All are featured in spectacularly detailed colour images from NASA, with a supporting cast of moons, comets and asteroids. With stunning fold-out spreads and many new and improved images, this is a Folio edition to inspire wonder and awe.
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
Illustrated by Gérard DuBois
With his pale blue eyes and dead stare, McCarthy’s villain Chigurh remains one of modern fiction’s most memorable bad guys. Set in West Texas, "No Country for Old Men" unfurls from the bloody aftermath of a clash of cartels, a deal gone wrong, and a very, very bad decision. Audiences remain captivated throughout by the stone-cold killer at the heart of McCarthy’s cinematic Western. Gérard DuBois, whose illustrations for Folio’s "The Road" won him the Moira Gemmill Illustrator of the Year Prize at the V&As, returns with his signature style that so perfectly complements McCarthy’s writing. His masterfully chosen colour palette paints scenes in black-and-white or faded desert hues, shot through with splashes of blood red. Through seven quietly arresting images, DuBois nods to traditional Western artists while capturing a stillness, often in the aftermath of violence or the tension of waiting. Bound in cloth screen-printed with a design by the artist, the cover art is muted yet beautifully rendered in dusky ochre. When you look closely, you glimpse the startling body count reached by the end of McCarthy’s modern Western masterpiece of American literature.
A General History of the Robberies & Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates by Captain Charles Johnson
Introduced by Margarette Lincoln
First published in 1724, Captain Charles Johnson’s book remains the most influential account of piratical lore ever written. In the grip of the Golden Age of Piracy, Georgian England had an insatiable appetite for tales of bloodlust and debauchery on the high seas and this stunning edition brilliantly reproduces Johnson’s graphic accounts of the marauders and their grizzly deeds. Introduced by maritime historian Margarette Lincoln, who offers a fascinating historical and political perspective on piracy, the edition also includes 35 intricate woodcuts and illustrations. The beautiful blocked-cloth binding is a fitting place to feature Major Stede Bonnet’s striking flag and the stunning endpapers replicate Jack Rackham’s pirate skull and cutlass totems.